Improved clothes-ironing machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IMPROVED CLOTH ES-IRONING MACHINE.

Specification forming part o f Letters Patent No. 37,994, dated March 24, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN W. Woon- WARD, of the city of Buffalo and State of New York, have invented a new and improved ironing machine and table for ironing or smoothing clothes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure I is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine, and Fig. II is a top plan of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the gures.

A represents the main frame or table, upon which the operative parts of the machine are supported.

B represents a hollow metallic table, upon which the ironing is done. This table is to be heated sufficiently hot for ironing and smoothing purposes by a jet or flame of gas, fluid, or spirit lamp, which ame is to be introduced within the table, so as to reverberate against the upper plate thereof. A hole of' sufficient size for the purpose is made in the bottom part of this table, into which is put a gas or lamp tube, as shown at c. This tube is open at the top and bottom, and hangs loosely in the bottom of the table, upon pins projecting therefrom, so as to leave air-space on its outside. It has a perforated horizontal partition or cover near its upper end, as shown at d, through which perforations the jet or gas passes, the flame thereof being upon the upper surface and within the metallic table B, so that will play against the under side of the upper plate of the table. The clothes arelaid upon this metallic table for ironing, and the heat from the gas-flame will be sufcient for all practical purposes. Gas may be used in the table by means of a flexible tube and burner, or a fluid or spirit lamp may be used. Either will afford sufficient heat for heating the metallic table, and for heating the smoothin g-iron used thereon.

E represents a smoothing-iron particularly constructed to be worked by mechanical means upon the said metallic table. It is made pointed at both ends, as represented in l the drawings, and is intended to be worked by an arrangementof levers, f g h t' j. The leverf is hinged to the smoothing-iron, as shown at f', and also to the lever g, as shown at g. Thelever ghas its fulcrum-shaft at L, and is hinged to the lever h ath', and the lever h is jointed to the lever iat i', and the lever i is made fast to the treadle J, and the treadle J has'its fulcrum upon a rod or shaft passing through the legs of the main frame, as shown at K. By working the treadle J with the foot, through the series of levers described, motion to and fro is given to the smoothing-iron, the clothes to be ironed being held upon the metallic table by the hand, while the smoothing is operated by the foot, as described. A roller may be substituted for the smoothing-iron, and be operated in the same manner, and other arrangements of levers and other mechanical means than those herein particularly described, may be used for operating the roller, when used, or smoothingiron, without departing from the principle of my invention.

m n O P represent a series of levers arranged for raisingor lifting the smoothing-iron from the table, when desired, and for applying pressure thereon when desired. The lever m has a hole through its lower end, through which hole the lever f plays freely, as shown at m. This lever is jointed to lever n, as shown at n', and the lever n is supported by the post B, having a fulcrum thereon, as shown at r. The lever O is jointed to the levers u and P, as shown at O P. The lever P has its fulcrum on the main frame, as shown at Q. By bearing down upon the handle end of the lever P any required amount of pressure through the series of levers described may be be brought upon the smoothing-iron, or roller when used, and the clothes thereby subjected to any amount of pressure moving over and upon them. By raising the handle end ot' the lever P the smoothing iron or roller may be lifted from the table, leaving the clothes free.

S shows a treadle, and T a rod connected therewith, and u is a lever having a fulcrum at u', with link, V which connects it to lever P. This arrangement is for the purpose of operating the lever P and its connections by the foot, as occasion may require.

W are guide-bars for guiding the lever f.

The heat of the table B will be sutcient to heat the smoothing iron or roller, and both Will be kept sufficiently hot by the spirit-lamp or flame of gas Within the table for all the pur poses of ironing and smoothing clothes.

The hollow metallic table may be used with the flame therein for heating Without anymechanical arrangement for operating1 the smoothing-iron, in which case an Ordin ary smoothin qiron may be used by hand, which of itself will be found to be a great improvement upon the old method. The face of this metallic table should have a smooth and polished surface, and the clothes to be ironed should be placed directly upon the table, Without any intervening` cloth. The clothes being thus subjected to the manipulations of the smoothing-iron, which is heated, and lying upon the metallic table, which is also heated, a smooth and glossy finish is given to the clothes, and

' the ironing and smoothing process made efli Aby a llame ot' gas or spirit lamp, and constructed and used for the purpose of ironing clothes thereon, as described.

2. Operating the smoothing-iron E by means substantially as described, in combination with the hollow metallic table B, for the purposes sct forth. f

STEPHEN W. WOODWARD Vtnesses:

E. B. FoRBUsH,

W. H. FoRBUsH. 

